blu-tack: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowEveryday, Informal
Quick answer
What does “blu-tack” mean?
A brand of reusable, pressure-sensitive adhesive putty, typically blue, used for temporarily attaching lightweight items to surfaces.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A brand of reusable, pressure-sensitive adhesive putty, typically blue, used for temporarily attaching lightweight items to surfaces.
Any similar reusable adhesive putty, regardless of brand or colour; often used generically. The action of attaching something with such material.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is dominant and highly familiar in UK/Commonwealth English. In American English, 'Poster Putty', 'Mounting Tack', 'Sticky Tack', or specific brand names like 'Fun-Tak' are more common, though 'Blu-Tack' is understood.
Connotations
In the UK, it carries strong connotations of school, office, and home DIY culture. In the US, it may be seen as a Britishism or a specific, less common product.
Frequency
Very frequent in UK everyday speech; low-to-moderate frequency in US English, where it is more of a specialist or imported product term.
Grammar
How to Use “blu-tack” in a Sentence
[Someone] blu-tacks [something] [to something][Something] is held up with blu-tackVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blu-tack” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I'll blu-tack the memo to your monitor.
- She carefully blu-tacked the photo to the wall.
American English
- He decided to blu-tack the map to the cubicle wall.
- Let's blu-tack these instructions to the fridge.
adverb
British English
- The poster was hanging blu-tackly from the ceiling.
- (Extremely rare/Non-standard)
American English
- (Virtually never used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- It was a blu-tack solution, but it worked for now.
- We need a more blu-tack approach to the problem.
American English
- The agreement was very blu-tack, subject to constant change.
- It's a blu-tack fix, not a permanent repair.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used informally in offices for putting up charts, notices, or reminders on walls and partitions.
Academic
Common in schools and universities for displaying student work, posters, and notices on boards and walls without damage.
Everyday
The primary context: at home for putting up posters, decorations, children's drawings, or securing small objects temporarily.
Technical
Used in model-making, photography backdrops, and light DIY where non-marking, removable adhesion is required.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “blu-tack”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “blu-tack”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blu-tack”
- Treating it as a countable noun ('a blu-tack' instead of 'some blu-tack' or 'a piece of blu-tack').
- Capitalisation inconsistency in writing.
- Using it on surfaces it can damage (fresh paint, wallpaper).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a registered trademark of Bostik. However, like 'hoover' or 'sellotape', it is often used generically in everyday UK English for any similar adhesive putty.
It is designed to be non-damaging, but it can leave oily marks or remove paint from freshly painted, delicate, or porous surfaces. Always test on a small, inconspicuous area first.
The most common generic term in American English is 'poster putty' or 'mounting tack'. A common brand is 'Fun-Tak' by Loctite.
Yes, especially in informal UK English (e.g., 'Blu-tack it to the door'). This is a denominal verb formation common for tools and products.
A brand of reusable, pressure-sensitive adhesive putty, typically blue, used for temporarily attaching lightweight items to surfaces.
Blu-tack is usually everyday, informal in register.
Blu-tack: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbluː tæk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbluː tæk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's hanging on by blu-tack (meaning: temporary, insecure, makeshift)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of BLUE TACK for sticking things BACK. The colour and the action rhyme.
Conceptual Metaphor
TEMPORARY/REVERSIBLE IS PLIABLE (like putty) vs. PERMANENT IS HARD (like a nail).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'to blu-tack' most likely to be understood?